Rowing device



`0't.2z's,1947. s. BASTA E'r'AL v` 2,429,790

ROWING DEVICE Filed Oct. 23, 1945 FE1 E? J/Lvgo 11.345111 Hawley3.2495711.; 65ans: C. SP1/nutrir,

Patente-d Oct. 28, 1947 ROWING DEV'ICE Silveo A. Basta, Harry D.Basta,and George-C.

' Spurr, Jr., Detroit, Mich.

Application October 23,

` .7 Claims. (Cl. 9-25) The invention relates to yimprovements in row#Ving devices as described in the-present specication and shown intheaccompanying'drawings that form a part ofthe same. f

The main object of the invention is to provide means whereby a boat'maybe propelled in the direction in whichV the rower isfacing, thussimplifying the directing of the course as well as eliminating thedangers and inconvenience occa,- sioned by backward rowing.

` Another -object ofthe invention is to provide simple means forclearing the oars from the water at the end of the -rowing strokev andinsuring its being re-dipped Vat the' proper angle for 'the nextrowingstroke, without the necessity of a boat so equipped easy and safe.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in thenovel features of construction,l arrangements and combinations of partsdescribed in the present speciiication and more particularly pointed outin the claims for novelty following. A In describing the inventionreferences will bemadeto the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of our improved rowing device attachedtothe gunwale of a boat.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the rowlock with the cover removed and theends of the sectional oar broken away. Y

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2. Y

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 ofFigure 2 with the cover in place. Y

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the variousgures.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates the bracket, or cradle, adaptedVVto be secured to the gunwale of the boat and-B indicates the rowlockwhich is adapted to` be mounted in the bracket A in such a manner thatit can be tilted in either direction' laterally of the' boat.

The bracket A consists of an elongated strip of metal bentlongitudinally intermediate vof its Width to provide arms or plates Iand 2 respectively, extendingat right anglesto one another,

tion consisting of a. metal arrnjIS having an open- 1945, serial Ne.Gasset the arm I being adapted to lie in parallel engage-v ment with theouter side of the gunwale 3 and being provided with bolt openings forthe reception of suitable bolts by means of which the bracket may beiirmly, secured to the gunwale, and the arm 2 extending inwar dly acrossand resting on the topdgeof the gunwale. The horizontal arm 2V isturnedupwardly at each of its ends to provide upstanding lugs 5 and.these e lugs are provided with laligned, openings 6 for the reception ofa'bearing ,pin "I, which latter extends fromend to endLpfwtheqbracketandis preferably provided atone'end with a head 8 and at its other end witha cross. opening forthe reception of a cotter pin 9. 'Y y The rowlock Bvconsists of.) ametal block I0 of a, length tolooselymfltwbetween thelugs 5 ofthe bracket A andjhaving: its sides II converging downwardlyfrom points .slightly removedffrom its top to the Itransverse centreofvthe block and having a longitudinalbore I 2 adapted ,to loosely receivethe bearingpinj whereby .the block will be supported by ,said pinvslightly above the top face of the arm 2 so that it can be tiltedlaterally of the boat. inthe rowingv operation.l

The top face of the blockl'is recessed to provide a flat bed I3extending completely across the block and theY walls atthe ends of. saidbed are so formed as to provide opposedendwise yextensions I4 of thebedcf substantially semi-inverted V-shape inA plan, with the apces ofsuch extensions-located in the transverse centre of the block. The endwalls of the bed I3 are further formed to recede at each side of eachextension I4t0 wards the ends of the block', as at I5, to permit of freemovement of the oar sections and to limit the movement of the.. oars tothat best suited to rowing, as will be explained hereinafter.

The top face of the block Il) above the bed I3 is flat and is adaptedfor the reception of a cover plate I6` and su'cncover ,plate and the topface of the bmekareprovided with threaded openings I1 for the yreceptionof screws I8 by means of which the V'cover plate is secured to the blockin spaced relation Ito the bed I3 to provide achannel accessibleV fromeach side of the rowlock. The oar is formedin ,two sections, the onesecrIv'he ends yofr the' arms I9.v and 22 oppOsite vto those in whichthey blade and handle are mounted are extended into the channel in therowlock from opposite sides and are linked together in endwiseoverlapping relation and are further pivoted to the rowlock prior tooverlapping by means of pins 24 positioned near opposite edges of therowlock in the longitudinal centre of the latter and anchored in theopposing faces of theA bed I3 and the cover plate I6 whereby movement ofthe oar handle in one direction will cause movement of the blade sectioninA the same direction.

In order to provide the proper endwise overlapping sliding connectionbetween the arms |i9f and 22 one of said arms, herein shown as the armI9, is reduced to provide a flat tongue 25 and this tongue is providedwith an elongated slot 26. The other arm, 22, is bifurcated to ern-Ybrace said tongue and is provided With a pin 21 extending looselythrough the slot 26 in thetongue 25. The pin 21 extends beyond each oftheV arms of the bifurcated portion of the arm 22 and loosely entersarcuate grooves 28 and 29 provided in the bed I3 and the inner face ofthe cover plate IS' respectively. If desired the pin 2.1 may be extendedthrough a bushing 30 carried by the bifurcated portion of the arm 22.

It will thus be apparent that when the handle section of the oarincluding its holder 22 is moved in one direction it will pivot on itsfulcrum 24 causing the portion thereof inwardly of the pivot. point toswing in the opposite direction and carry the overlapping end of theother arm with it, with the pin 2'| sliding within the slot 26 to permitof the varying endwise relation of the arms, and that as the other armI9' is pivoted to the block the blade section will be moved in the samedirec tion as the handle section.

Those portions of the arms I9 and 22 from the reduced and bifurcatedportions outwardly which swing within the oar housing preferably havetheir top and bottom sides flattened, as atk 3|, to conform to theopposing. faces of the bed I3 and cover plate I6 and are of suchthickness that While they will' slide freely between said cover plateand bed they will be held thereby against rotation.

The arms I9 and 22 are provided with openings 32 near their outer endsfor the reception of suitable pins (not shown) by means ofv which theblade and handle sections 2| and 23 respectively maybe locked. to saidarms.

In order that the blade and handle parts 2|y and 23 may be kept fromturning. in their sockets such parts are provided with end recesses 33and the arms I9 and 22 are provided with interiorly located tongues 34adapted to enter the recesses in the parts 2| and 23.

1t will be apparent that when it is desired to remove the blade andhandle. sections of the cars, such as when leaving. the boat.unattended, it is simply necessary to remove the pins from the openings32 and withdraw the sections, which can readily be re-inserted when.desired.

In the operation of the invention the rower sits facing the direction inwhich the boat is to be rowed and after grasping the handle sections ofthe cars simply move themy towards and away from him, or her, in theusual manner, taking care at the completion of each rowing stroke totilt the rowlock inwardly by a simple turn of the wrist,y and hold sameinv this position during the return stroke to hold the blade free of thewater,

and to return the blade to the Water for the rowing stroke by tiltingthe rowlock outwardly. The angular relationship of the inclined sides ofthe rowlock and the nat horizontal face of the supporting bracket issuch that in the rowing stroke the blade will attain the required dipand during the return stroke will be raised the required distance toclear the water. The inclined portions |5 of the end walls of therowlock will be found to limit the forward and rearward movement of theoar section to that best suited for rowing. v

While we haveA illustrated and described the lpresent preferred form ofconstruction for carrying out our invention, this is capable ofvariation and modification withoutl departing from the spirit of theinvention. We, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction set forth, butv desire to avail ourselves ofsuch variations and modifications as come within the. scope of theappended claims.

What we claim is :4

1. In a rowing device, a rowlock comprising a block having a transverserecess therethrough providing a bed, a cover plate spaced from said bedand with the latter providing a transverse channel, said bed and saidcover plate having aligned longitudinally extending arcuate grooves, apair of oar sections extending into said channel from opposite sides ofsaid block, said oar sections being fulcrumed Within said channel forpivotal movement on a horizontal plane, said oar sections having pivotalsliding connection at their inner ends, and a pinY providing theconnection between the ends of saidy oar sections, said pin at oppositeends entering the grooves in the bed and the cover plate respectively.

2. A rowing device as set out in claim 1, in which the end walls of saidrecess :are cut away to provide longitudinally aligned substantiallysemi-inverted V-shaped extensions of said bed.

3. .A rowing device as set out in claim 1, in which the end walls ofsaid recess are inclined at each sidetowards the corresponding ends ofthe rowlock to regulate the stroke of the oar.

4. In a rowing device, a laterally tiltable rowlock comprising a blockhaving a transverse recess therethrough flanked at each end by upstanding walls, a cover plate on said walls spaced from the bedof saidrecess, said` cover plate and said bed having longitudinally extendingaligned arcuatev grooves in their opposing faces, an oar comprising abladeseetion and a handle section fulcrumed in said block at oppositesides of said grooves and extending inwardly across said grooves inVoverlapping relation, one of said oar sections terminating a flat tonguehaving a longitudinal slot therein and the other of said oar sectionshaving a bifurcated portion embracing said tongue, and a pin extendingloosely through said slot in one oar section and through the bifurcatedportion of the other oar section and extending into the grooves in saidcover plate and said bed respectively.

5. A rowing device as set out in claim 4, in Which said oar sections areflattened on their top and bottom surfaces at the points of entri7 intosaid block to conform to the flat opposing faces of said cover plate andsaid bed to prevent rotation of said oar sections.

6. In a rowing device, a laterally tilt-able rowlock comprising a blockhaving a transverse recess in the top surface thereof ilanked at eachend by upstanding walls, a cover plate secured on said walls spaced fromthe bed of said recess, said cover plate and said bed havinglongitudinally extending aligned curved grooves in their .opposingfaces, an oar comprising a blade helding part and a handle holding partextending into said recess from opposite sides of said block andoverlapping at their ends across said grooves, means providing :apivoted sliding connection for the overlapping ends of said blade andhandle holding parts, said means entering said grooves and being movabletherein, said blade and handle holding parts being pivoted in said blockoutwardly of their connection with one another, said blade and saidhandle holding parts being pro vided at their outer ends with openingsfor the reception of a blade and a handle respectively, a bladeremovably mounted in said blade holding part, and a handle removablymounted in said handle holding part.

7. In a rowing device, a bracket adapted to be secured to the gunwale ofa boat, said bracket including a horizontal plate having an upstandinglug at each end thereof, said lugs having longitudinally alignedopenings therethrough, a pin adapted to be projected through saidopenings in said lugs, a rowlock comprising a block adapted to loosely tbetween the lugs on said bracket and having an opening extendinglongitudinally therethrough for the reception of said pin whereby saidrowlock will be supported by said pin for lateral tilting movement, thesides of said rowlock being inclined downwardly at the required angle tocoact with the top face of said bracket to limit the tilting movement ofsaid rowlock, a cover plate on said rowlock, said rowlock having atransverse recess beneath said recess providing a bed spaced from saidcover plate, said cover plate and said bed being provided with alignedlongitudinally extending curved grooves in their opposing faces, a pairof oar sections entering said recess from opposite sides of the rowlockand overlapping one another, means providing a sliding pivotalconnection between the overlapping ends of said oar sections, andpivotal means for said oar sections at opposite sides respectively ofsaid grooves whereby movement of one oar section will cause movement ofthe other oar section in alike direction.

SILVEO A. BASTA.

HARRY D. BASTA.

GEORGE C. SPURR, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 874,317 Flint Dec. 17, 19071,554,100 Korsen Sept. 15, 1925 1,624,743 Kmberlin Apr. 12, 19272,129,006 Kahn Sept. 6, 1938

